What Grows On in Rhode Island News

SAVE THE DATES ~ Sustainable Tourism Labs ~ May 22 & October 16-18, 2008

From the Sustainable Tourism Lab:

SAVE THE DATES:

Spring Lab: May 22, 2008
Fall Lab: October 16-18, 2008

For more info, see January 25, 2008 Projo article and the website.

Vendors & Nonprofits Sought for Tick Control Awareness Day ~ June 7, 2008

From Tick Encounter Resource Center:

Open Call for Vendors and Nonprofit Organizations

..........................................................................................

Do you know an organization or vendor that would like to participate in this years' Tick Control Awareness Wellness Festival?

The University of Rhode Island's Tick Encounter Resource Center organizes an annual Tick Control Awareness Day, the only one of its kind in the nation. The program is designed to educate, inform and compel the public to safeguard themselves and their pets from ticks and tick bites. The third annual Tick Control Awareness Day will be June 7, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. near the Ryan Center on the University of Rhode Island campus. This year's event will have a summertime wellness theme delivered in a festival atmosphere with food and fun events for all ages. Participants will have opportunities to learn from public health, medical, and veterinary experts about the best tick-bite prevention practices and products.

Please contact us if you are affiliated with an outdoor nonprofit organization or know of someone who has a local business that might be interested in participating in the event.

Vendor Requirements:

• Must have current RI sales permit
• Would prefer vendors that carry a least one product designed to prevent tick bites on humans/pets or kill ticks in the yard (must have present on day of event). However, exceptions can be made, please contact us.

Outdoor Nonprofit Groups:

• Should be outdoor groups that have the potential of benefiting from tick-bite prevention
• Must provide their own staff and supplies on the day of event

For more information contact Erin at [email protected] or 401-874-9505

URI's Center For Vector-Borne Disease is devoted to eliminating tick-borne disease in Rhode Island. We will implement our goals, and seek out those people and entities that can make a difference, and encourage them to do their part. To learn how you can help, visit the Tick Encounter Resource Center website at: http://www.tickencounter.org.

RI Chapter, Ruffed Grouse Society Annual Fundraiser ~ March 8, 2008

From The Providence Journal:

The Sunday 1/27/08 article, "With luck, Blackstone River will be trout heaven," not only reports on the release of a quarter of a million brown-trout fry in the Blackstone River, that will mature in the ocean and come back to spawn in the Blackstone in 3 or 4 years, but also mentions the next meeting of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) and the March 8 third annual fundraising dinner of the RI chapter of The Ruffed Grouse Society.

In the last three years, the Ruffed Grouse Society has raised $5,500 to give to the RI Division of Fish and Wildlife "for research and habitat improvement," which has been used to encourage the development of "young trees in 'early successional' forests that benefit wildlife on state lands." The society also promotes habitat development on private lands for birds and wildlife.

The dinner is at Ivy Garden, formerly Evelyn's, in West Warwick, March 8 beginning at 5. Reservations: call Ed McGovern (401-539-3178). Download WWarwickRI08.pdf

Tree Steward Symposium ~ March 29, 2008

From RI Tree Council:

SAVE THE DATE!

Ritree will be holding a Tree Steward Symposium on March 29, 2008 from 9:30 AM- 3 PM at URI Weaver Auditorium in the Coastal Institute.  Watch for our brochures for more info  and mark this date on your calendar.

Call for Workshops at RI Sustainable Living Festival & Clean Energy Expo ~ Proposal Deadline is March 1, 2008

From Apeiron Institute:

Call for Workshops

RI Sustainable Living Festival & Clean Energy Expo

Saturday, June 7^th, 2008

The Rhode Island Sustainable Living Festival & Clean Energy Expo combines education and entertainment to promote clean energy and earth friendly living. In this one-of-a-kind event, expert-led workshops, exhibits, vendors and children’s activities are accompanied by great food and live music for a very unique community building experience. Upwards of 1,500 people now attend even in the rain! For a glimpse of last year’s program, visit www.livingfest.org.

The date of this year’s festival is Saturday, June 7^th from 10 am to 8 pm at the Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living. Workshops generally run until 6:00 pm. Proposals will be accepted through March 1^st.

Interested presenters should fill out the form below and return it to [email protected].

Questions to ask yourself: Can you inspire bold new beginnings and lifestyle changes? Can you inform about effective approaches to reduce carbon and consumption footprints? Can you speak to everyone to help them make a difference for themselves, RI, Earth?

In conjunction with our work to transform RI into the nation’s 1^st sustainable state, we wish to emphasize priority actions, highlight initiatives already in the works or underway. Priority will be given to hands-on demonstrations and interactive learning experiences. We are looking for 1 or 2 hour programs that advance these conversations and call people to action. What’s your vision?

Presenters will be notified of their acceptance by April 1^st. A final workshop schedule will be available by April 15^th. For further information or workshop consultation, please contact [email protected], [email protected] or call 401-228-7930.

Thanks for your support and we hope to see you there!

Bekah Greenwald
Director of Education
Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living

13th Annual Ecology of RI Conference - Call for Abstracts Deadline January 23; Conference March 20, 2008

From ECRI Newsletter and RINHS:

SAVE THE DATE!

Rhode Island Natural History Survey
13th Annual Ecology of Rhode Island Conference
"Recent Advances in Understanding the Ecology of Rhode Island"

Thursday, March 20, 2008, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Corless Auditorium - URI Bay Campus, Narragansett, Rhode Island

Call for Abstracts: Oral Presentations and Posters

Green Technology Conference ~ February 28, 2008

From Brown Forum for Enterprise:

2008 Green Technology Conference

Green Technology: Science, Innovation & Enterprise in the Region
Thursday, February 28, 2008
8 am to 6 pm
Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, Rhode Island
Register now

It is said that the field of green technology innovation could well become the largest economic opportunity of the coming century. This full-day conference will showcase some of the leading technologies and trends in our region today--from clean energy and commercial operations to green building and land reclamation to green chemistry and investing--you'll hear from the researchers, policy makers, businesses and investors that are working to make technology, innovation and enterprise environmentally sound and ecomomically viable.

Keynote speakers:

• Joel Makower, Greener World Media
• Adam Werbach, Act Now
• J. Patrick Adcock, World Energy

Click here for complete agenda

National Oceanfest 2008 ~ October 9-13, 2008

From The Ocean Project Blue Planet News:

SAVE THE DATE!

National Oceanfest 2008 is an opportunity to celebrate our common connection to the ocean, and help chart the course for its protection.

The conference will reflect on the decade since the National Ocean Conference, focusing on the knowledge gained and progress made. National Oceanfest also presents a unique venue to identify priorities and opportunities for ocean protection into the 21st Century.

National Oceanfest 2008 is being planned for October 9th - 13th in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The conference will include presentations on the state of the ocean and exhibits from federal agencies and companies in ocean science and technology. Oceanfest will also include maritime venue and open house tours from Woods Hole to Provincetown.

For more information please contact Brian Braginton-Smith of the Lewis Bay Research Center at (508)398-1700 X 201 or [email protected].    

Land & Water Conservation Summit ~ March 15, 2008

From Environment Council of Rhode Island:

Land & Water Conservation Summit

Saturday, March 15, 2008  8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Location:  URI Kingston Campus - Memorial Student Union Building

Sponsors:

  RI Land Trust Council

  Narragansett Bay Estuary Program

  RI Association of Conservation Commissions

Save the Date! March 15

This day-long conference will provide You with the skills, information and connections you need to be effective!

- 30 Workshops with practical "how to" techniques and the latest information for community conservation leaders.

- Networking with conservation leaders from across Rhode Island.

- Keynote:  No Kid Left Inside - Commissioner Gina McCarthy, CT Dept. of Environmental Protection will discuss the importance of connecting families and children to the landscapes and watersheds that we are trying to protect.  No Child Left Inside is a response to the best selling book "Last Child in the Forest."  The trend is that children don't go outside and play much anymore.  They don't ride bikes climb trees, or catch frogs as often as their parents did. The goal of No Child Left Inside is to unplug our kids and families from their computers, televisions, and electronic games and reconnect them to the natural world.

The Summit is THE Conference for Rhode Island's grass roots conservation leaders:  Land Trusts, Watershed Councils & Conservation Commissions

Rhode Island Begonia Society ~ December 2007 & February 2008

From Rhode Island Begonia Society:

The December meeting of the RI Begonia Society will take place Saturday, December 15th at 12:30 at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center in Providence. As was discussed at the last meeting, the Buxton Branch (MA) of the ABS meets on the first Saturday of each month. They have great meetings, too, and in order to allow true begonia fanatics to attend both the RI and the MA meetings we have switched to meeting on the third Saturday for the RI branch. After the December meeting we won't be back at the Botanical Center until Feb. 16th, 2008. In the spring we will have a terrarium workshop led by Wanda MacNair, who won the most blue ribbons at the begonia show at Tower Hill this fall. A trip to Logees has also been suggested, as well as a tour of the RIC greenhouse.  All ideas for activities are welcomed!

Remember that if you want to be a charter member of this group, the December meeting will be your last chance as we are hoping to have our charter from the American Begonia Society when they meet in January.
Looking forward to seeing everyone on the 15th.

Priscilla Purinton
401-688-0678